A skid loader, skid-steer loader or skidsteer is a small, rigid-frame, engine-powered machine with lift arms that can attach to a wide variety of labor-saving tools or attachments.
Skid-steer loaders are typically four-wheeled or tracked vehicles with the wheels mechanically locked in synchronization on each side, and where the left-side drive wheels can be driven independently of the right-side drive wheels. The wheels typically have no separate steering mechanism and hold a fixed straight alignment on the body of the machine. Turning is accomplished by differential steering, in which the left and right wheel pairs are operated at different speeds, and the machine turns by skidding or dragging its fixed-orientation wheels across the ground. The extremely rigid frame and strong wheel bearings prevent the torsional forces caused by this dragging motion from damaging the machine. As with tracked vehicles, the high ground friction produced by skid steers can rip up soft or fragile road surfaces. They can be converted to low ground friction by using specially designed wheels such as the Mecanum wheel. Skid-steer loaders are capable of zero-radius, "pirouette" turning, which makes them extremely maneuverable and valuable for applications that require a compact, agile loader. Skid-steer loaders are sometimes equipped with tracks instead of the wheels, and such a vehicle is known as a compact track loader.
The Melroe brothers, of Melroe Manufacturing Company in Gwinner, North Dakota, purchased the rights to the Keller loader in 1958 and hired the Kellers to continue refining their invention. As a result of this partnership, the M-200 Melroe self-propelled loader was introduced at the end of 1958. It featured two independent front-drive wheels and a rear caster wheel, a 12.9 hp (9.6 kW) engine and a 750-pound (340 kg) lift capacity. Two years later they replaced the caster wheel with a rear axle and introduced the M-400, the first four-wheel, true skid-steer loader.[2] The M-440 was powered by a 15.5 hp (11.6 kW) engine and had an 1,100-pound (500 kg) rated operating capacity. Skid-steer development continued into the mid-1960s with the M600 loader. Melroe adopted the well-known Bobcat trademark in 1962.
The distinctive aspect of the skid steer is its multitude of attachment choices, which make it possible to execute a wide range of activities with the same piece of equipment. The standard attachment for a skid steer is a bucket, although this can be supplemented by any variety of alternatives that make it possible for a skid steer to fulfill the functions of several different types of equipment. Typically, a skid steer is fitted with a bucket attache and is used for lifting and transporting heavy materials.
Demolition
Roadwork
Snow and debris removal
Excavating, digging and trenching
Grading and backfilling
Loading
Mowing
Landscaping
Agricultural Work
Material handling
Bobcat: We supply Bobcat because we have fiound their performance to be exceptional in terms of product quality and service backups.
Hitachi: Amongst other manufacturers we provide Hitachi Construction Machinery diggers, the reason for this is Hitachi have a long proven history of supplying solid diggers to UK industry.
Caterpillar: This is a brand that extends diggers into a lot of products throughout the building trade Caterpillar diggers are the heart and soul of the building trade.
JCB: If you were to ask any builder what a JCB is they would probably look at you with a confused look on their face, this is because JCB is probably the biggest name worldwide in diggers.
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